Yesterday, Mr. Magnus Edgar, a settler on Gabriola Island, had the tops of three of his fingers badly crushed. He was leading a young steer with a rope, and some movement of the animal twisted the rope around the fingers, injuring them as above stated.

     Three persons, representing themselves as commercial travellers, have lately visited this district with the object of selling cloth, etc. In this city, we believe, they transacted no business, but one of them, O'Brien by name, visited Gabriola Island and there it appears transacted a land office business in disposing of his wares. Two settlers T. Dignan [Degnen] and Magnus Edgar bought cloth, etc. to the amount of $150 each, for which they gave their promissory notes payable in four or six months at the banking house of Garesche, Green & Co., at Victoria. In a second examination of the cloth they found pieces which O'Brien represented and guaranteed sufficient to make a suit of men's clothes, only contained three and three and a half yards each. The gulled settlers then took the cloth back to O'Brien and wanted him to take it back again, but Mister O'Brien was not in the habit of doing business in this manner. He acted on the principle that a bargain was a bargain and refused to take back the cloth or to refund the notes. Before any further action could be taken by the tillers of the soil, O'Brien had gone in search of pastures fresh rumor says to Comox. Before leaving, however, the "traveller" made strenuous efforts to "shave" the notes, offering to take $200 for the two notes, a neat little discount 33 1/3 per cent. But it was unsuccessful. Mr Dignan [Degnen] an Edgar now advertise that they will not be responsible for the payment of the aforesaid notes, as they were obtained from them by misrepresentation. Dignan goes so far as to say that he firmly believes he was mesmerized, for he had no need of the cloth and had not the slightest intention of purchasing any such material from him or anyone else.

    Inspection, 11th June. Teacher O.M. Gregory. Enrolled: boys, 13; girls, 5; total, 18; average, 9.3. Present, boys, 5; girls, 4; total, 9.
    None being qualified for the A papers, 5 were examined in the B's. The highest class of this school ranks as 6th among the 2nd classes examined with it.
    The highest percentage of marks obtained was 48 per cent, by Maggie Dignan [Degnen] and Mark Edgar; the lowest 8, and the average of the 5 examined 26 per cent.
    The attendance having fallen below the average required by law, and no more than 9 attending at all, the trustees did not re open this school in August. ...

     Applications are requested for the position of teacher of the Gabriola Island School. Salary, $50 per month.
        Apply to
                 Magnus Edgar
                        Sec. Trustee Board

    Editor FREE PRESS: The examination of the Gabriola school came off on Friday last, the 23rd inst., and was conducted by Mr. Shaw, the teacher, assisted by some of the parents, and was very satisfactory. The examination was backed up on the following evening (Christmas Eve) by a grand entertainment.
    The programme consisted of tea, awarding prizes, singing, readings, recitations, theatricals, and speeches.
    By five o'clock the school room was crowded the desks having had to be removed to make room for benches. We hadn't long to wait when the business of the evening commenced.
    The door flew open and in bounced four stalwart waiters bearing baskets full of cups and saucers so in another instant each was armed with cup in hand ready for the seige. But, in this instance, in place of being the beseigers, we were more like the beseiged, for those four had scarcely vanished when they reappeared, bearing trays heaped with buns, cakes, pies, puff de leaumes, fat rascals, and numerous other dainties too hard for the uninitiated to pronounce.
    By the way, I think it must have been Mrs. Shaw who selected those four athletics, in order to make sure that nothing should be lacking, at least on her part.
    But now came the intellectual part of the programme, and it was well that each was fortified in a substantial manner to withstand the "tear and wear" that followed. Each came to the front and performed his or her part without the least hesitation, and they came on in a steady stream without stop, hindrance, or breakdown, neither too quick nor too slow, but like the gallant little brook that goes rippling steadily along, warbling and singing o'er its pebbled bed, sparkling and dancing in the golden sun.
    The programme was neatly interwove with the comic, the sentimental, and the sublime, but threads were so numerous that I can only attempt to touch a few. Perhaps a leading piece of the evenin was a part of Act 4th, Scene 1st in The Merchant of Venice.
    When the curtain was withdrawn, the first personage who arrested the attention was the Duke in the person of Mr. J. Edgar. His long flaxen beard and moustache appeared to have just got a most artistic touch. The tittered and smothered laugh went round as many thought they could discern somewhat of their late aquaintance in the severe and dignified personage before them.
    The Duke must have heard something of what was going on, but it seemed as if the dignity of his new position had raised him high above his old companions, as not a muscle of his grave and venerable features relaxed into the faintest resemblance of a smile.
    Shylock was ably represented by Mr. B. Wake, who appeared to have a thorough knowledge of his part. Mr. J. Grey [Gray] had the part of Portia the judge, and performed exceedingly well. Gratiano, by Mr. J. Digman [Degnen], and Antonio, by Mr. J. Shaw, were done to a nicety.
    Two recitations by Miss H. Shaw were rendered in admirable style. The Quack Doctor, by Mr. J. Shaw, was given in character and caused great merriment. But it would be hard to draw a line and say where anything of inferior description commenced.
    Of course, Mr. J. Shaw, Sr., was the controlling spirit of the evening, and must have took no little trouble to bring the whole affair up to the standard reached.
     The meeting was dismissed between nine and ten o'clock, when all betook themselves, in high glee, to their homes.

    A very successful night school was brought to a close on Friday the 17th, when several prizes were given to the successful competitors, the parents present expressing surprise at the very marked improvement made by the class.
    On Tuesday evening the class gave a public entertainment, the first part of which consisted of tea, cakes, buns, etc.
    The second, or intellectual part, was well sustained by John Edgar, James Gray, James and John Degnen, John and Alex Shaw. The trial scene in Pickwick was given in character.
    Other readings, recitations and dialogues followed, the whole being interspersed with music, vocal and instrumental. The leading female voices were Margaret and Helen Degnen, Ann Edgar, Helen and Margaret Shaw.'br.     The programme was finished about 10 o'clock when the meeting broke up highly satisfied with the evening's entertainment.

    At Gabriola Island, on Oct. 22nd, Ann, wife of Magnus Edgar.

At Vancouver, on Thursday, Oct. 8th, 1891, by the Rev. R. R. Maitland, Magnus Edgar, of Gabriola Island, to Ann Swanson, of the Shetland Isles.

About a year ago, Mr. Magnus Edgar, one of the 40 year pioneers of this Province, and a prominent settler on Gabriola Island, paid a visit to his native home in the Shetland Isles. He must haev made good use of his time, for on Thursday a lady by the name of Ann Swanson, arrived at Vancouver direct from the Shetland Isles. The expectant bridegroom, Mr. Edgar, was in waiting, and they were immediately united in the holy bonds of wedlock by the Rev. R. R. Maitland. The newly married couple arrived by the SS. Cutch last evening, and this morning proceeded in Mr. M. Edgar's beautiful home on Gabriola Island. The Free Press wishes our pioneer friend and his bride a full measure of connubial felicity.

     At the invitation of the Lower End Settlers, all the settlers of Gabriola Island have been invited to a grand pic-nic to be given at "The Maples," (Mr. Magnus Edgar,) a beautiful spot on the banks of the False Narrows. A gala time is expected, as all are entering into the reunion with earnestness and in a jovial spirit.